The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks host the Maine Nordiques this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a weekend triple-header at Danbury Arena. Tickets are available in limited quantity by clicking here. Let’s take a look at our keys to the series:
Record
Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks – 36 games, 16-18-2 (34 points, 6th in East Division)
Maine Nordiques – 47 games, 28-18-1 (57 points, 2nd in East Division)
Tale of the Tape
The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks and Maine Nordiques have been evenly matched all season long. Though the Nordiques having won six of nine meetings between the two teams, five of those six victories have come by just one goal. Things got testy in their last weekend set, with Maine taking two of three games and the third leg opening with a line brawl that resulted in a bevy of suspensions.
Danbury is coming off its biggest win of the season, having thumped the Northeast Generals 8-3 last Saturday on home ice. They will be looking to carry that momentum into the weekend tripleheader as the team continues its push for the Robertson Cup Playoffs. The Jr. Hat Tricks sit five points behind the fifth-place Northeast Generals and nine points behind the fourth-place Maryland Black Bears.
Maine enters the weekend on a five-game losing skid, having been thoroughly outplayed in each game. The Nordiques have been outscored 31-9 over their streak, which includes a loss at Danbury and four on home ice against Johnstown and New Jersey.
Players to Watch
Adam Shuchart, D (DHT)- Shuchart has taken on more of an offensive role from the back end for the Jr. Hat Tricks, skating more powerplay minutes and activating the breakout at even strength. He has a pair of assists in his last three games, giving him eight points on the year. With how tightly contested games are between these two teams, the Jr. Hat Tricks will need a strong weekend from Shuchart.
Shane Murphy, F (DHT)- Shane Murphy came excruciatingly close to scoring the first hat trick in team history last Saturday against the Generals, finishing the game with two goals and an assist. Murphy has scored a whopping 11 points in nine games against the Nordiques this season.
Isaiah Fox, F (MNE)- Though Fox has been a consistent contributor for the Maine Nordiques over two seasons, he has yet to find the back of the net against the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. Nevertheless, he has three assists in eight games and is a terrific shot generator on the top line.
How to Watch
Tickets are available in limited quantity by clicking here. Live streaming will be featured on HockeyTV. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night, and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Written by Johnny Alexandre